Apparatus for removing solids from fluids



Feb. 17, 1942. F. w. KERNS APPARATUS FOR REMOVING SOLIDS FROM FLUIDS Filed Dec. 28, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 17, 1942. F. w. KERNS APPARATUS FOR REMOViNG SOL IDS FROM FLUIDS Filed Dec. 28, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 17, 1942. F. w. KERNS 2,273,271

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING SOL-IDS FRM FLUIDS Filed Dec. 28, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

452a g J ATTORNEYS.

Fi -fa l n lFisilfi is caicentralvertlcalsectionoi stillan- Patented Feb. 17, 1942 Arrmws son REMOVING sou s mom v rwms I w. seem, Berkeley, Calif. Application December 28,1940, Serial no. mm

invention relates to a method and apparatus-tor removing solids from fluids; and P ticularlyto improvements in-the apparatus disclosed .in my iormer Fatents No. .1,88 0.185issued September 27, l932 and .No. 2.012.567, issued 'august z'l; 1935, the present application being a continuation in part or my application entitled .Method and apparatus for removing s01 ids from fluids," flied December 21,1938; Serial Number smote. V I The; object .o! the present invention is to providela'n improved mm of apparatus which peri mits separation or -removal of solids from fluids wmaintainedfunder low or high pressures: to. provide an: :imprcve'd term: or 1 seporatinza-platei and inf-surrounding wallwhereby unitonn velocity of fluid may the maintained over substantially the ientireareacotithe 'platez to provide an improved ior'm oi apparatus :in which both centripetal and 'irravitationalforces areIutilinedxto insure separation of solids from fluid; and further, too provide means for mechanically imparting rotational movement to the fluid withjsumcient velocity to permit centrlpetalremoval of solids where the velocity and quantity of incoming fluid to be treated is not suiiicient to. produce the required rotational movement and velocity, The invention is"aho'wn by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in-which- Fig-lie acentrai verticalsection of one form of the apparatus; 1 V

Eig.-21is.:a plan view thereof; h. Fig.4? is acentral vertical section of another form of the apparatus; I

Figs-ibis,-a-crosssection on line IV-JV of Hewi t-ac if i v 7 cross section on-line V- -V at Fig.

uReferrinB etc-the; drawings in detail; and particularlymtoii'lzsnl and 2,4 ndicates in s nier -ascvlindrical term of. tank or container, havdrical or cone-shaped member 8, between the of which and ihe bottom I is io'rmed an annular opening 9 through-which the solids enter chamber 1.- In the bottom of the housing 1 is a discharge pipe l0, and connected therewith is a valve Ii or other means which may be continuously or intermittently open, as conditions demand. a

In actual practice the fluid or liquid to be treated enters through the tangentially disposed inlet l, under suflicient velocity to cause rotation of the entire body 01 fluid within the container A., The broadidea of separating solids iromwater; and other flul ds by centripetal ac- I a circularor curved conduit, (Jr-through a cylindricaliy shaped container, such as here shown. there is downward {low along the outer wall and across or lateralliiowacross the bottom. The force gr vity causessolid matter to settie towards the bottom; and-the down and crossfiow causes the solids which-havesettled to travel inwardly towards theannular Bpeningt, where they enter theohamber I andsettla, The liquid or mud within the chamber 1 is maintained in a quiescent condition to permit free settling, and the settled matter thus separated, tromthe flow ing fluid may be periodically removed by intermittent opening of the valve ii, or continuous removalma'y be insuredby maintainingv the valve partially pr open. v w v The bottom 2 oithe main container may be flat, but a warped surface such, as an inverted truncated cone is desirable, as. the sloping botth s provided promotes gravitational discharge of the solids through the opening I into the lower container- The apparatuss'hownin Fig; 1 is particularly intended for handling fluidsmaintainedimder considerable pressure, and as the. separating chamber A is completeLv closed. fluids, tinder pressure vmay pass through without any appreciable pressureloss. In the apparatus'disciosed, the'fluid discharges.at a point above the level of the inlet 4. Since the volume 0! fluid is continuously or intermittently being replaced by the incoming fluid. there results an upward movement whichvcombin'es with the horizontal movement and results in a helical upward flow oi the entire body oi fluid. The end result 0! this combination enforces is that the solids or particles greater than a certain size 01 jiil tiflc gravltyfsettle' to the bottom and are swepti' gtlcles oi 'a smaller size or lower specific gravity are carried continuously in suspension by the helical upward flow oi the fluid, and are ultimately carried out and away by the discharging fluid.

The eiiect ofthis is practically to clarify a fluid. The extent of clarification is determined by the velocity the fluid with respect to the size and/or specific gravity of the solids. Thus clarification of the fluid may also result in a separation oi the solids into products or diflerent sizes and/or speciflc gravitles, and this separation may in certain cases be the purpose or function oi the apparatus.

An apparatus particularly intended for classiilcatlon purposes is disclosed in Figs. 3 to 5. The main container A is in this instance divide'd into three parts, to wit, a lower settling chamber II, an intermediate separating chamber it, and an upper overflow launder II. The intermediate chamber is provided with an inner vertically disposed spirally shaped wall it, and a tangentially disposed inlet II. In actual operation, there is a continuous flow over the annular lip indicated at II. into the discharge launder ll. Hence as the fluid entering the intermediate chamber, through the tangential inlet, imparts rotational movement to the entire bodyoiliquidorfluid.thereisalsoavertical movement due to the continuous overflow. The fluid enters in the direction of arrow 1:. At this point thearea of thebottomfl is the greatest. and so is the volume oi fluid, but as the fluid rotates or travels in the direction of arrow b, the volume decreases due to the continuous upward overflow; hence as the volume decreases. velocity over the bottom would also decrease. but by providing the spirally-shaped exterior wall ll,theareadecreasesinproportiontoloss in volume, and constant or uniform velocity over the bottom is maintained. and sanding or sedimentation is avoided.

In the operation of the apparatus shown in Figs. 8 to 5, the solids will settle to the bottom and enter chamber It, from where they may be continuously or periodically discharged by means 0! a valve 24. The annular opening 8' iorming communication between the intermediate chamber" and lower settling chamber ll may beiormedasinFlg.lorbyprovidingacylindrlcal member such as shown at it supported from above as indicated at.

Theextent oi clarification obtained by the apparatus shown is determined by the velocity o! the fluid with respec to the size or sp gravity oi the solids contained: hence solids of a certain size or'speciflc gravity will settle, while others will be carried by the upward flow and will discharge into the launder II, from where they may be conducted by the pipe no to other apparatus for further treatment. Beg ation oi the solids may be further controlled y increasing or decreasingtliediameter o! the cylinder 2! with relation to the overflow lip. as this increases or decreases the velocity of the upwardly flowing or discharging fluid.

In order to obtain the best emciency with an apparatus of the type described, a rotational veloelty within certain limits must be maintained. 1! centripetal action is to be secured. There are instances where the velocity or volume of the incoming fluid, or both, may be insumcient to maintain the required rotational velocity. In that event, an apparatus of the type disclosed in' Fig. 6 is employed. It is similar in construction to the other anaemia-Is already described,

but differs thereirom by being provided with power-driven arms II on which are mounted paddles or blades Ii. By rotating the arms and blades. rotational movement is imparted to the body or the fluid, and any velocity may be accured by controlling the speed of the rotating arms. Hence even through the volume and velocity oi the incoming fluldmiiy be very small. the proper velocity ismaintalned by the rotating arms and blades, and'eihcient separation or removal of solids is insured.

It will be noted that in the several structures shown. an annular flow chamber is formed between the outer wall oi the apparatus and the central member indicated at I in Fig. l and at ."5 in Figs. 3 and 6. One 0! the features of the invention is to insure as uniform a rotational velocity as possible throughout the. width of the channel; i. e.. the velocity of the central or inner point 0! a revolving body-oi fluid tends to become excessive, and it is for thls'reason that a free circular vortex is iormcd; the inner portion of the vortex revolving at extreme velocity as n a whirlpool or a whirlwind. I! the member were not provided, such velocities would develop with results detrimental to an apparatus oi this character, as high velocities would prevent sedimentation.

In actual practice it has been loundthat the diameter or the central member should be approximately one third that of therouter well: however, this diameter may be. changed, as it is desirable to vary the rotational andupward velocities in order to obtain desired resultswith the same or' diil'erent materials. also it has been iound desirable that the central member function as a cover for the central bottom opening in the apparatus, so that material in thechamber I oi F18. l, and ii of Figs. 8 and 6. may be maintained in a condition oi substantial quiescence. The central member must be spaced irom the central opening to iorm an annular entrance opening.'such as that indicated at U in Fig. i or 9' in Figs. ii and 8, but it may be larger or smaller than the opening.

While certain ieatures of my invention have been more or less specifically described and illustrated, I nevertheless wish it understood that changes may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described and illustrated my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus i'or separating solid matter trom a flowing stream 01' fluid. comprising a vertically disposed elongated cylindrical tank which forms an outer wall, a bottom in the tank. said bottom having a central opening iormed therein. a member circular in cross section spaced from said opening and extending upwardly into the tank and forming an inner wall. said member being concentric with the bottom opening in the tank and forming. with the tank; an annular flow channel. -said circular member having a diameter substantially one third that of the outer wall. to prevent the formation 01 a vortex and to maintain a substantially uniform velocity oi iluld flowing through the annular 'channel throughout the width of the channel, a closed chamber below the bottom of the tank but in communication with the annular channel through the central opening in the bottom oi the tank. a discharge at the top oi the tank. a tangentially disposed inlet in the tank. said inlet bet!!! in communication with the lower portion of the annular channel to cause entering fluid to flow around and around in the channel several revolutions before discharging from the upper end of the channel, said fluid flow being maintained at a velocity to permit centripetal action and gravitational settling of solid matter towards the bottom of the channel, and to direct the solid matter towards the opening in the bottom and to settle through said opening into the lower chamber, and means for removing the solids from the lower chamber.

2. An apparatus for separating solid matter from a flowing stream oi fluid, comprising a vertically disposed elongated cylindrical tank which forms an outer wall, a bottom in the tank, said bottom having a central opening formed therein, a member circular in cross section spaced from said opening and extending upwardly into the tank to form an inner well, said member being concentric with the bottom opening in the tank and being 01' substantially the same diameter, and forming with the tank an annular flow channel, said circular member and the opening in the bottom of the tank having a diameter substantially one third that or the outer wall of the tank, a closed chamber below the bottom oi the tank and in communication with the annular channel through the central opening in the bottom of the tank, said circular member forming a cover for the central opening in the bottom 01' the tank but being spaced therefrom to form an annular opening between the tank and the closed chamber below the tank, a discharge at the top of the tank, a tangentially disposed inlet in the tank, said inlet being in communication with the lower portion of the annular channel to cause entering fluid to flow around and around in the channel several revolutions, before discharging from the upper end oi the channel, said fluid flow being maintained at a velocity to permit centripetal action and gravitational settling of solid matter toward the bottom of the channel and to direct the solid matter toward the annular opening formed between the circular member and the central opening in the bottom of the tank, said annular opening permitting solid matter to enter into the lower chamber, and means for removing solids from the lower chamber.

3. An apparatus for separating solid matter from a flowing stream of fluid, comprising a vertically disposed container having a lower compartment formed therein containing a body or substantially quiescent fluid to permit settling of solid matter, a second compartment, a bottom in said compartment with a central opening formed therein to form communication with the lower compartment. a spirally shaped wall in the second compartment, a tangential inlet for admission of fluid containing solids to the second compartment. said inlet being disposed at the point where the ppiral wall presents its greatest radius, said second compartment being open at the upper end and provided with an overflow lip to permit fluid entering the second compartment to rise in a spiral path and overflow the lip, a discharge launder surrounding the overflow lip to receive the overflowing fluid, and an elongated member disposed in the second compartment, said member being circular in cross section and disposed substantially centrally of the second compartment to form an annular channel between itseli and the spirally shaped wall, and confining the fluid flow to the channel.

4. An apparatus for separating solid matter from a flowing stream of fluid, comprising a vertically disposed container, the outer wall oi which is spirally shaped in cross section from its lower to its upper end, an annular horizontally disposed intumed flange at the upper end of the spiral wall, said flange forming a partial cover for the container, a bottom in the container with a central opening formed therein, an extension of the container below the bottom having a chamber formed therein containing a body of substantially quiescent fluid, and a tangential inlet disposed above and adjacent the bottom of the flrst named container for admission of fluid containing solids, said fluid when entering the container flowing in a spiral path and discharging from the upper end of the container through the outlet oi smaller area, said spiral flow under the inturned flange causing centripetal diversion and permitting gravitational settling of the contained solid matter through the central opening in the bottom into the body oi quiescent fluid.

5. An apparatus for separating solid matter from s flowing stream of fluid, comprising a vertically disposed container, the outer wall oi which is spirally shaped .in cross section from its lower to its upper end. an annular horizontally disposed intumed flange at the upper end of the spiral wall, said flange forming a partial cover for the container, a central overflow outlet of smaller area than the containenan extension on the container below the bottom having a chamber formed therein containing a body of substantially quiescent fluid, a tangential inlet disposed above and adjacent the bottom 01' the flrst named container ior admission oi fluid containing solids, said fluid when entering the container flowing in a spiral path and discharging from the upper end of the container through the outlet of smaller area, said spiral flow under the inturned flange causing centripetal diversion and permitting gravitational settling oi the contained solid matter through the central opening in the bottom 'into the body of quiescent fluid, and a vertically disposed annular overflow lip connected with the inner edge or the intumed flange, said lip controlling the velocity and head of the overflow.

ram: w. mus. 

